diff --git a/ui/src/components/IssueRow.test.tsx b/ui/src/components/IssueRow.test.tsx
index e5276c7f..3273d96c 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/IssueRow.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/IssueRow.test.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { act } from "react";
 import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
+import type { Issue } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import { IssueRow } from "./IssueRow";
 
@@ -14,6 +15,49 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/router", () => ({
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
 (globalThis as any).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
 
+function createIssue(overrides: Partial<Issue> = {}): Issue {
+  return {
+    id: "issue-1",
+    identifier: "PAP-1",
+    companyId: "company-1",
+    projectId: null,
+    projectWorkspaceId: null,
+    goalId: null,
+    parentId: null,
+    title: "Inbox item",
+    description: null,
+    status: "todo",
+    priority: "medium",
+    assigneeAgentId: null,
+    assigneeUserId: null,
+    createdByAgentId: null,
+    createdByUserId: null,
+    issueNumber: 1,
+    requestDepth: 0,
+    billingCode: null,
+    assigneeAdapterOverrides: null,
+    executionWorkspaceId: null,
+    executionWorkspacePreference: null,
+    executionWorkspaceSettings: null,
+    checkoutRunId: null,
+    executionRunId: null,
+    executionAgentNameKey: null,
+    executionLockedAt: null,
+    startedAt: null,
+    completedAt: null,
+    cancelledAt: null,
+    hiddenAt: null,
+    createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
+    updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
+    labels: [],
+    labelIds: [],
+    myLastTouchAt: null,
+    lastExternalCommentAt: null,
+    isUnreadForMe: false,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
 describe("IssueRow", () => {
   let container: HTMLDivElement;
 
@@ -28,45 +72,7 @@ describe("IssueRow", () => {
 
   it("suppresses accent hover styling when the row is selected", () => {
     const root = createRoot(container);
-    const issue = {
-      id: "issue-1",
-      identifier: "PAP-1",
-      companyId: "company-1",
-      projectId: null,
-      projectWorkspaceId: null,
-      goalId: null,
-      parentId: null,
-      title: "Inbox item",
-      description: null,
-      status: "todo",
-      priority: "medium",
-      assigneeAgentId: null,
-      assigneeUserId: null,
-      createdByAgentId: null,
-      createdByUserId: null,
-      issueNumber: 1,
-      requestDepth: 0,
-      billingCode: null,
-      assigneeAdapterOverrides: null,
-      executionWorkspaceId: null,
-      executionWorkspacePreference: null,
-      executionWorkspaceSettings: null,
-      checkoutRunId: null,
-      executionRunId: null,
-      executionAgentNameKey: null,
-      executionLockedAt: null,
-      startedAt: null,
-      completedAt: null,
-      cancelledAt: null,
-      hiddenAt: null,
-      createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
-      updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
-      labels: [],
-      labelIds: [],
-      myLastTouchAt: null,
-      lastExternalCommentAt: null,
-      isUnreadForMe: false,
-    } as const;
+    const issue = createIssue();
 
     act(() => {
       root.render(<IssueRow issue={issue} selected />);
@@ -81,4 +87,30 @@ describe("IssueRow", () => {
       root.unmount();
     });
   });
+
+  it("neutralizes selected status and unread dot accents", () => {
+    const root = createRoot(container);
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.render(<IssueRow issue={createIssue()} selected unreadState="visible" />);
+    });
+
+    const markReadButton = container.querySelector('button[aria-label="Mark as read"]');
+    const unreadDot = markReadButton?.querySelector("span");
+    const statusIcon = container.querySelector('span[class*="border-muted-foreground"]');
+
+    expect(markReadButton).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(markReadButton?.className).toContain("hover:bg-muted/80");
+    expect(markReadButton?.className).not.toContain("hover:bg-blue-500/20");
+    expect(unreadDot).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(unreadDot?.className).toContain("bg-muted-foreground/70");
+    expect(unreadDot?.className).not.toContain("bg-blue-600");
+    expect(statusIcon).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(statusIcon?.className).toContain("!border-muted-foreground");
+    expect(statusIcon?.className).toContain("!text-muted-foreground");
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.unmount();
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/ui/src/components/IssueRow.tsx b/ui/src/components/IssueRow.tsx
index bcb3f2b2..8a01e585 100644
--- a/ui/src/components/IssueRow.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/components/IssueRow.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export function IssueRow({
   const identifier = issue.identifier ?? issue.id.slice(0, 8);
   const showUnreadSlot = unreadState !== null;
   const showUnreadDot = unreadState === "visible" || unreadState === "fading";
+  const selectedStatusClass = selected ? "!text-muted-foreground !border-muted-foreground" : undefined;
 
   return (
     <Link
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ export function IssueRow({
       )}
     >
       <span className="shrink-0 pt-px sm:hidden">
-        {mobileLeading ?? <StatusIcon status={issue.status} />}
+        {mobileLeading ?? <StatusIcon status={issue.status} className={selectedStatusClass} />}
       </span>
       <span className="flex min-w-0 flex-1 flex-col gap-1 sm:contents">
         <span className="line-clamp-2 text-sm sm:order-2 sm:min-w-0 sm:flex-1 sm:truncate sm:line-clamp-none">
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ export function IssueRow({
           {desktopMetaLeading ?? (
             <>
               <span className="hidden shrink-0 sm:inline-flex">
-                <StatusIcon status={issue.status} />
+                <StatusIcon status={issue.status} className={selectedStatusClass} />
               </span>
               <span className="shrink-0 font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                 {identifier}
@@ -113,12 +114,16 @@ export function IssueRow({
                   onMarkRead?.();
                 }
               }}
-              className="inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors hover:bg-blue-500/20"
+              className={cn(
+                "inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors",
+                selected ? "hover:bg-muted/80" : "hover:bg-blue-500/20",
+              )}
               aria-label="Mark as read"
             >
               <span
                 className={cn(
-                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-blue-600 transition-opacity duration-300 dark:bg-blue-400",
+                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full transition-opacity duration-300",
+                  selected ? "bg-muted-foreground/70" : "bg-blue-600 dark:bg-blue-400",
                   unreadState === "fading" ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100",
                 )}
               />
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/Inbox.test.tsx b/ui/src/pages/Inbox.test.tsx
index fc7f9fea..c103a523 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/Inbox.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/Inbox.test.tsx
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 import { act } from "react";
 import type { ComponentProps } from "react";
 import { createRoot } from "react-dom/client";
+import type { Issue } from "@paperclipai/shared";
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
-import { FailedRunInboxRow } from "./Inbox";
+import { FailedRunInboxRow, InboxIssueMetaLeading } from "./Inbox";
 
 vi.mock("@/lib/router", () => ({
   Link: ({ children, className, ...props }: ComponentProps<"a">) => (
@@ -17,6 +18,49 @@ vi.mock("@/lib/router", () => ({
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
 (globalThis as any).IS_REACT_ACT_ENVIRONMENT = true;
 
+function createIssue(overrides: Partial<Issue> = {}): Issue {
+  return {
+    id: "issue-1",
+    identifier: "PAP-904",
+    companyId: "company-1",
+    projectId: null,
+    projectWorkspaceId: null,
+    goalId: null,
+    parentId: null,
+    title: "Inbox item",
+    description: null,
+    status: "todo",
+    priority: "medium",
+    assigneeAgentId: null,
+    assigneeUserId: null,
+    createdByAgentId: null,
+    createdByUserId: null,
+    issueNumber: 904,
+    requestDepth: 0,
+    billingCode: null,
+    assigneeAdapterOverrides: null,
+    executionWorkspaceId: null,
+    executionWorkspacePreference: null,
+    executionWorkspaceSettings: null,
+    checkoutRunId: null,
+    executionRunId: null,
+    executionAgentNameKey: null,
+    executionLockedAt: null,
+    startedAt: null,
+    completedAt: null,
+    cancelledAt: null,
+    hiddenAt: null,
+    createdAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
+    updatedAt: new Date("2026-03-11T00:00:00.000Z"),
+    labels: [],
+    labelIds: [],
+    myLastTouchAt: null,
+    lastExternalCommentAt: null,
+    isUnreadForMe: false,
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
+
 describe("FailedRunInboxRow", () => {
   let container: HTMLDivElement;
 
@@ -91,3 +135,47 @@ describe("FailedRunInboxRow", () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe("InboxIssueMetaLeading", () => {
+  let container: HTMLDivElement;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    container = document.createElement("div");
+    document.body.appendChild(container);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    container.remove();
+  });
+
+  it("neutralizes selected status and live accents", () => {
+    const root = createRoot(container);
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.render(<InboxIssueMetaLeading issue={createIssue()} selected isLive />);
+    });
+
+    const statusIcon = container.querySelector('span[class*="border-muted-foreground"]');
+    const liveBadge = container.querySelector('span[class*="px-1.5"][class*="bg-muted"]');
+    const liveBadgeLabel = Array.from(container.querySelectorAll("span")).find(
+      (node) => node.textContent === "Live" && node.className.includes("text-"),
+    );
+    const liveDot = container.querySelector('span[class*="bg-muted-foreground/70"]');
+    const pulseRing = container.querySelector('span[class*="animate-pulse"]');
+
+    expect(statusIcon).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(statusIcon?.className).toContain("!border-muted-foreground");
+    expect(statusIcon?.className).toContain("!text-muted-foreground");
+    expect(liveBadge).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(liveBadge?.className).toContain("bg-muted");
+    expect(liveBadgeLabel).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(liveBadgeLabel?.className).toContain("text-muted-foreground");
+    expect(liveBadgeLabel?.className).not.toContain("text-blue-600");
+    expect(liveDot).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(pulseRing).toBeNull();
+
+    act(() => {
+      root.unmount();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/src/pages/Inbox.tsx b/ui/src/pages/Inbox.tsx
index d2fa614b..670469e6 100644
--- a/ui/src/pages/Inbox.tsx
+++ b/ui/src/pages/Inbox.tsx
@@ -100,6 +100,67 @@ function readIssueIdFromRun(run: HeartbeatRun): string | null {
 
 
 type NonIssueUnreadState = "visible" | "fading" | "hidden" | null;
+const selectedInboxAccentClass = "!text-muted-foreground !border-muted-foreground";
+
+function getSelectedUnreadButtonClass(selected: boolean): string {
+  return selected ? "hover:bg-muted/80" : "hover:bg-blue-500/20";
+}
+
+function getSelectedUnreadDotClass(selected: boolean): string {
+  return selected ? "bg-muted-foreground/70" : "bg-blue-600 dark:bg-blue-400";
+}
+
+export function InboxIssueMetaLeading({
+  issue,
+  selected,
+  isLive,
+}: {
+  issue: Issue;
+  selected: boolean;
+  isLive: boolean;
+}) {
+  return (
+    <>
+      <span className="hidden shrink-0 sm:inline-flex">
+        <StatusIcon
+          status={issue.status}
+          className={selected ? selectedInboxAccentClass : undefined}
+        />
+      </span>
+      <span className="shrink-0 font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+        {issue.identifier ?? issue.id.slice(0, 8)}
+      </span>
+      {isLive && (
+        <span
+          className={cn(
+            "inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full px-1.5 py-0.5 sm:gap-1.5 sm:px-2",
+            selected ? "bg-muted" : "bg-blue-500/10",
+          )}
+        >
+          <span className="relative flex h-2 w-2">
+            {!selected ? (
+              <span className="absolute inline-flex h-full w-full animate-pulse rounded-full bg-blue-400 opacity-75" />
+            ) : null}
+            <span
+              className={cn(
+                "relative inline-flex h-2 w-2 rounded-full",
+                selected ? "bg-muted-foreground/70" : "bg-blue-500",
+              )}
+            />
+          </span>
+          <span
+            className={cn(
+              "hidden text-[11px] font-medium sm:inline",
+              selected ? "text-muted-foreground" : "text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400",
+            )}
+          >
+            Live
+          </span>
+        </span>
+      )}
+    </>
+  );
+}
 
 export function FailedRunInboxRow({
   run,
@@ -148,11 +209,15 @@ export function FailedRunInboxRow({
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={onMarkRead}
-                className="inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors hover:bg-blue-500/20"
+                className={cn(
+                  "inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors",
+                  getSelectedUnreadButtonClass(selected),
+                )}
                 aria-label="Mark as read"
               >
                 <span className={cn(
-                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-blue-600 transition-opacity duration-300 dark:bg-blue-400",
+                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full transition-opacity duration-300",
+                  getSelectedUnreadDotClass(selected),
                   unreadState === "fading" ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100",
                 )} />
               </button>
@@ -300,11 +365,15 @@ function ApprovalInboxRow({
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={onMarkRead}
-                className="inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors hover:bg-blue-500/20"
+                className={cn(
+                  "inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors",
+                  getSelectedUnreadButtonClass(selected),
+                )}
                 aria-label="Mark as read"
               >
                 <span className={cn(
-                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-blue-600 transition-opacity duration-300 dark:bg-blue-400",
+                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full transition-opacity duration-300",
+                  getSelectedUnreadDotClass(selected),
                   unreadState === "fading" ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100",
                 )} />
               </button>
@@ -402,6 +471,7 @@ function JoinRequestInboxRow({
   onMarkRead,
   onArchive,
   archiveDisabled,
+  selected = false,
   className,
 }: {
   joinRequest: JoinRequest;
@@ -412,6 +482,7 @@ function JoinRequestInboxRow({
   onMarkRead?: () => void;
   onArchive?: () => void;
   archiveDisabled?: boolean;
+  selected?: boolean;
   className?: string;
 }) {
   const label =
@@ -433,11 +504,15 @@ function JoinRequestInboxRow({
               <button
                 type="button"
                 onClick={onMarkRead}
-                className="inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors hover:bg-blue-500/20"
+                className={cn(
+                  "inline-flex h-4 w-4 items-center justify-center rounded-full transition-colors",
+                  getSelectedUnreadButtonClass(selected),
+                )}
                 aria-label="Mark as read"
               >
                 <span className={cn(
-                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-blue-600 transition-opacity duration-300 dark:bg-blue-400",
+                  "block h-2 w-2 rounded-full transition-opacity duration-300",
+                  getSelectedUnreadDotClass(selected),
                   unreadState === "fading" ? "opacity-0" : "opacity-100",
                 )} />
               </button>
@@ -1351,6 +1426,7 @@ export function Inbox() {
                     <JoinRequestInboxRow
                       key={joinKey}
                       joinRequest={item.joinRequest}
+                      selected={isSelected}
                       onApprove={() => approveJoinMutation.mutate(item.joinRequest)}
                       onReject={() => rejectJoinMutation.mutate(item.joinRequest)}
                       isPending={approveJoinMutation.isPending || rejectJoinMutation.isPending}
@@ -1393,27 +1469,13 @@ export function Inbox() {
                         ? "pointer-events-none -translate-x-4 scale-[0.98] opacity-0 transition-all duration-200 ease-out"
                         : "transition-all duration-200 ease-out"
                     }
-                    desktopMetaLeading={(
-                      <>
-                        <span className="hidden shrink-0 sm:inline-flex">
-                          <StatusIcon status={issue.status} />
-                        </span>
-                        <span className="shrink-0 font-mono text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                          {issue.identifier ?? issue.id.slice(0, 8)}
-                        </span>
-                        {liveIssueIds.has(issue.id) && (
-                          <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-blue-500/10 px-1.5 py-0.5 sm:gap-1.5 sm:px-2">
-                            <span className="relative flex h-2 w-2">
-                              <span className="absolute inline-flex h-full w-full animate-pulse rounded-full bg-blue-400 opacity-75" />
-                              <span className="relative inline-flex h-2 w-2 rounded-full bg-blue-500" />
-                            </span>
-                            <span className="hidden text-[11px] font-medium text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 sm:inline">
-                              Live
-                            </span>
-                          </span>
-                        )}
-                      </>
-                    )}
+                    desktopMetaLeading={
+                      <InboxIssueMetaLeading
+                        issue={issue}
+                        selected={isSelected}
+                        isLive={liveIssueIds.has(issue.id)}
+                      />
+                    }
                     mobileMeta={
                       issue.lastExternalCommentAt
                         ? `commented ${timeAgo(issue.lastExternalCommentAt)}`